Breakfast Babble: Boards Weren’t Your Whole Life, Just A Part Of It

Breakfast Babble: ED’s own little space on the inter-webs where we gather to discuss ideas and get pumped up for the day. We judge things too. Sometimes. Always. Whatever, call it catharsis and join in people.

This morning when I logged into my Facebook account, I came across a Facebook memory. The Facebook memory invoked a few real memories.

The sadness of how things didn’t fall into place and the nervousness of a result awaited. Right from when I started understanding things, I planned my days. I planned my dreams and aims.

So much that when things didn’t go according to the plan, I used to flip out. I marked and remarked days, minutes even. Only to feel disheartened when I couldn’t achieve what I wanted to.

This affected my Class 12th results too. I had stressed about them to such an extent that I couldn’t perform up to my caliber. I had planned and over-planned so much that I broke down when I couldn’t achieve what I expected from myself.

I then took a gap year to decide what I actually wanted to do with my life. This time though, I stressed more on learning than planning.

More on studying than stressing and planning about studying. And things did finally start falling into place. I joined a good college and seem to be doing good enough for myself.

Emotionally, some things still stir the storm inside but I seem to manage now. It’s been quite some time, I am trying to not be scared of exams and deadlines. I try to go with the flow and I can not be happier.

Moral of the story being, sometimes it’s okay to not know and it’s okay to not plan. Not asking you to not study at all or not care about planning at all. Not trying to give you the entire Vir Das kinda hopes here.

Of course grades matter, very much in fact. But if due to some xyz episode you couldn’t score well, it’s not the end of the world. I know it’s easier said than done. I know things don’t feel good at the moment but a few years from now, things eventually will.

But things will only fall into place if you learn from your mistakes and grow. That’s what life is all about. Take it as an experience and learn from it, instead of letting it bog you down.

And for all those who actually put days and nights of hard work into your marks, congratulations! Don’t let anyone tell you these marks won’t matter. They will, they’ll get you into a good college and maybe even a good job.

Lastly, don’t let these marks make you think too high of yourself or make you break down. Boards were just another set of exams, future still lies in your hands and not just in these scores. If you stop working hard post boards, you’ll still not land up in a good job!